Daily Devotional Friday 17th April 2020
by William Moody
John 20:24–29
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,1 was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Footnotes
[1] 20:24
Greek Didymus (ESV)
Thomas was a man of courage who was devoted to Jesus (see John 11 v16). But Thomas missed out by not being with the other disciples when Jesus met with them (v24). There is a very simple lesson here about how we can miss out when we neglect meeting with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thomas wants to dictate the terms through which he will believe (v25). Have we the right to dictate to God what must happen for us to believe Him?
Jesus meeting with His disciples is repeated (v26), but this time Thomas is present. Jesus very graciously invites Thomas to do what he had requested and challenges him to believe (v27).
There is a difference between the stubborn unbeliever who doesn’t believe because they don’t want to believe and the struggling doubter who is looking for help to believe. Jesus has great patience for the struggling doubter.
We don’t actually read of Thomas touching Jesus’ wounds, seeing is enough and he falls in faith and worship acknowledging Jesus as God (v28). Have you?
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